Vitus Bering

Vitus Bering, born in Denmark, spent a good chunk of his life exploring for Russia. He was a naval officer and explorer, primarily known for leading two major expeditions for the Russian Navy, famously charting the Arctic coast of Siberia and discovering the Bering Strait and the Aleutian Islands.

His expeditions were epic, dangerous, and often fatal. Many of his crew, including Bering himself, succumbed to scurvy and harsh conditions. He might have been a great explorer, but he was less successful at keeping himself and his crew alive, which is a bit of a drawback in the exploration business.

Regarding his Jewish bona fides, there's absolutely nothing to suggest any connection. He was born in a predominantly Lutheran Denmark and served a Russian Empire that, at the time, wasn't exactly known for its welcoming embrace of Jewish people, particularly in the ranks of its naval explorers. As such, his I and O scores remain firmly at rock bottom.

His lasting legacy, however, is undeniable. The Bering Strait, Bering Sea, Bering Island, and the Bering Land Bridge all bear his name, solidifying his place in geographical history. While not Jew-ish in the slightest, his contributions to cartography certainly earned him a modest Kvell-worthiness score for making the world a bit better understood, even if he suffered greatly for it.